Wigglytuff's Guild. The gate was not yet closed, but it wouldn't be long before Chatot barred any further visitors from the guild for the day. However, Layne could not deny himself. His feet felt like they weighed a ton. Anxiety filled his body, seeing his friends again, and the fact that he was now going to have to tell them one hell of a wild story that he didn't expect any of them to believe.

"Well, here we are..." Layne said to Pyro.

"It feels as if we've been gone for ages." Pyro said.

"Technically, we have." Layne said. "We took a trip God only knows how far into the future. I don't know what else to say on that."

"Layne, am I the only one feeling awkward about showing our faces here again?" Pyro asked.

Layne shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'm feeling a bit anxious myself." Layne said popping his neck. "We were simply taken from them just like that, it's going to be a little strange walking in with a look of joy as if to say 'Honey, I'm home!' It's only natural."

"It will be strange to suddenly show up."

Layne simply shrugged. "I can only imagine the majority of them are eating dinner. That's quite a funny feeling I just got." Layne said smiling.

"Pyro laughed and said, I guess we can't act bashful now. We do need their help and cooperation, and we need to tell them the truth!"

"Okay." Layne said. "So who's stepping on the grid to deliver the wonderful news?"

Pyro didn't even answer. He just walked up and placed his foot over the sentry hole.

Layne chuckled as he heard the old familiar call from Diglett. "Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

Layne heard Loudred's grumpy voice on the other end. "At this hour? I was JUST about to EAT, Diglett...oh forget it. Whose footprint is it?"

Diglett called. "The footprint is...the footprint is..."

There was a moment of silence. Layne looked to Pyro and said, "Well, news is delivered. Now for the reply..."

"Sentry Diglett! What's wrong? Are you SERIOUSLY having another problem with a footprint? That makes it what, three times this month?"

Diglett didn't even respond, and Layne could only think he felt the ground moving beneath him.

"Diglett! Just WHERE do you think YOU'RE burrowing off to- Oh...hi. You look like you've seen a ghost."

There was a silent moment. Layne could still hear Loudred's voice, as loud as it was, but he no longer heard Diglett, and he was about to say something to Pyro, when he suddenly heard Loudred shout "WHAT?"

Layne let out a chuckle. "Message received."

Diglett then suddenly popped out of the ground in front of the guild's gate. "It is Pyro! And Layne's with him too!"

Pyro lit up on seeing Diglett. "Diglett! Long time no see!"

Layne then heard Loudred's voice again. "EVERYONE! TEAM HYDRO PYRO IS OUTSIDE!"

Layne now knew for sure that everyone's feet were running up the guild ladder to see the two that had disappeared for a month or so. Before Layne could even ask, the gate opened and Loudred ran up. "Well, I'll BE!" he shouted. "It IS true!"

Corphish followed Loudred, who was followed by Bidoof, and Sunflora.

"Hey, hey! Hydro Pyro!" Corphish spoke in joy.

"Oh my gosh! It really is them!" Sunflora cried in her usual excitement.

Loudred spoke again, "I can't believe it! You're both ALIVE!"

Layne and Pyro should have expected the mad rush. Croagunk and Chimeco came up.

"We were all so worried about you both!"

Bidoof was on the verge of tears, and couldn't even manage to get a sentence out of his mouth. Layne just smiled, and said, "Missed you, buddy."

"And I missed you too!" Autumn's voice came from behind Layne. Layne turned to see Autumn at the Guild entrance, arms crossed, but with a smile of joy clearly hidden.

Layne wanted to say something smart to Autumn, but all he could do was return her smile as she ran up and gave him a hug to remember. She even shed a few tears of her own. "We've missed you so much."

Layne was a little wigged out by this whole thing, but returned her hug and simply said, "I missed you too...have we got some stories to tell you."

Pyro was also in some tears and said, "It's hard to believe...we're actually home."

It was at that moment that they heard Chatot's squawk. Autumn and Layne let go of each other and turned their attention to the entrance of the Guild.

Layne didn't know what to expect. He half expect Chatot to go on some rant about how they shouldn't have gone to the future without taking their bag or some other ludicrous rant, but all he did was stand aside, and let Guildmaster Wigglytuff walk forward. Layne for the first time in his lie here, straightened up before the Guildmaster could even say one word. Perhaps Layne's respect for Wigglytuff as his guildmaster, was increasing.

Wigglytuff smiled and said, "Welcome home!"

Layne managed a smile and said, "It's good to be home."

Bidoof finally said, "The Guild's been so empty without you! Yup, yup!"

"Hey, hey!" Corphish also said, "But how did you get back?"

"Oh my gosh! That's right!" Sunflora said. "You must explain everything!"

Layne spoke up, but focused on the Guildmaster. "Guildmaster, they're right. Pyro and I have some very important experiences you all need to hear, immediately."

"Then," Chatot finally said, "We will hear you out at once! Everyone! Let us proceed to the main room!"

Layne took a deep breath. Autumn looked at him and said, "You're certainly anxious."

Layne looked at her and said, "If you knew half the things I know right now, you'd be anxious when you had to tell the guild as well..."

Of course it didn't go as easily as Layne wanted it to go. Chatot did not like their story one bit. "What?" he squawked. "You're telling us all, that first of all, Grovyle is actually good, and that he was collecting the Time Gears to save the world?"

"Yes." Pyro said.

"And second, you're claiming the great Dusknoir was only pretending to be kind and helpful, but he is really heinous and wicked?"

Layne popped his neck and crossed his arms. "He never said, 'heinous' or 'wicked'...but yes."

"And third...you're saying that Layne...as in the Layne we see right now, was at one point, Grovyle's partner?"

Layne corrected him. "Still am."

The Guild was murmuring. Layne could only imagine what about. Would they even trust him after this? He saw conflicting looks all around. Chatot fluttered and said, "So Dusknoir wanted to get rid of both Layne and Grovyle. So he dragged you both to the future...and you managed to escape from Dusknoir simply by the skin of your teeth?"

Pyro said, "Well, Grovyle was the main reason for our escape. Without him we wouldn't even have made it back home."

Layne spoke up, and before you ask, yes! This planet will soon become paralyzed if we don't do something. And there is only one solution, the one I just said. Grovyle needs to finish collecting the Time Gears, so the job can be finished. But as he does this, we need your help and cooperation in finding a place simply known as Hidden Land."

There was a moment of silence. Layne popped his neck once again simply to break the silence, and Chatot began...to laugh.

"I do ask, Chatot, what do you find so funny about this story?"

Chatot simply said, "Pyro and Layne, you two must have had a bad dream!"

Layne nearly collapsed in absolute embarrassment. A bad dream? That was the best he could come up with. "Yeah..." Layne said. "Pyro and I had the exact same dream where we went to the future, were confronted by Grovyle, found out an awful truth, and woke up at the exact same time and realized this dream must have been reality. No wonder we've been gone for a month."

Chatot said, "Perhaps you two should go to your rooms and get some rest. You both have a lot of work to catch up on in your guild training."

Layne almost lost it, "For God's sake, Chatot, forget the training for five minutes! This is serious!"

"I'm very sure it is!" Chatot said, though Layne knew that Chatot didn't mean a word of it. Layne looked to Pyro. They knew this wouldn't be easy, but Chatot wasn't really giving them much room for them to defend themselves. Chatot continued that phrase though. "I'm sure you two are suffering from exhaustion. As I said earlier, some sleep will fix that!"

"Oh for the love of God..." Layne said.

Pyro also spoke up, "What we're both saying is the whole truth, Chatot! Don't you believe us?"

Chatot fluttered, and the mood Layne so much disliked returned. "That's quite enough! Let me ask you if there is any part of that story that is even remotely plausible! A place called Hidden Land? I'll have you know that as head of intelligence here at the guild, I have never heard of such a place! And besides, the great Dusknoir is far too kind to do anything you've accused him of doing!"

"Please..." Layne said. "Dusknoir is anything but great, and like I said, he tried to have us executed. I got a nasty scar hidden beneath my facial fur to prove it."

"We didn't believe it either!" Pyro said, trying to take a more civil approach to this. "It came as a huge shock, and it was not easily accepted, but-"

"No more!" Chatot shouted. "I won't hear another word of this. The great Dusknoir. A villain! Your story is just unbelievable."

"Way to point it out for the um-teenth time..." Layne simply said crossing his arms.

"You two can't possibly believe your own story?" Chatot asked.

"That's a really stupid question, Chatot." Layne said, popping his neck.

"How can anyone here seriously consider the great Dusknoir to be a villain?"

Dugtrio spoke up, "We cannot believe it. We hold Dusknoir in high esteem."

Layne simply popped his neck and muttered, "To a rather big list...with the ocean on the very top..."

Chatot simply said, "See? SEE? Everyone here shares the same opinion!"

Layne simply popped his neck. "That's one pokémon out of 10 pokémon here, not including you, me or Pyro." he said. "Anyone else care to voice their opinion on this?"

There was a moment of silence. Sunflora was skeptical. "There is something I don't understand." Everyone turned to her. "That time, when the great Dusknoir was about to return to the future, what Dusknoir did...was very strange, any way you look at it."

Chatot asked, "What makes you say that? Don't you think that Pyro and Layne fell in the hole by accident?"

That set Layne off.. "Are you serious? Do those eyes of yours even work?" he shouted.

Before Chatot had a chance to react to Layne's outburst, Pyro simply said, "Calm down, Layne..."

But Loudred and Autumn backed them up immediately.

"NO WAY!" Loudred shouted.

Autumn went as far as saying, "How could you even suggest such a thing was accident?"

Loudred nodded, and said, "We all clearly saw Dusknoir GRAB Pyro and Layne, and pulled them in against their will!"

Corphish spoke up, "Hey, hey! That's right! I saw that too!"

"Gosh," Bidoof said, "I really had to wonder why Dusknoir did something like that."

Autumn spoke up, "If their story is true, then what Dusknoir did makes perfect sense! So why are you in denial, Chatot?"

Chatot fluttered in panic, "Now, wait a minute! Is that all what you really think now? Do you all believe what Layne and Pyro are claiming, now?"

There was silence in the room for almost a full minute.

That's when Bidoof said, "I believe them."

Everyone turned to Bidoof. Layne gave Bidoof a smile as if to say, "Thanks, buddy..."

"Bidoof!" Chatot squawked. "What did you say? You're claiming the great-"

"I swear to God," Layne said, "You call him great one more time, and I will put your foot in your mouth."

Autumn came to Bidoof's side as he was obviously struck at the heart just now, and said, "We all thought highly of of Dusknoir. I won't deny how this whole thing sounds troubling, but there's something more important here!"

Bidoof spoke up, "Layne and Pyro to me are more important than Dusknoir ever would be! And so I believe all of what they say!"

"As do I!" Autumn said in reply.

Chatot was flabbergasted. "You-you do?"

But it didn't stop there.

"Hey, hey!" Corphish spoke up, "I believe them too!"

"Me too! Oh my gosh!" Sunflora called out. "They are our guild colleagues, after all!"

Layne smiled at the support they were finally getting, and he also smiled at Chatot's priceless reactions.

Loudred also spoke up. "I believe them TOO!"

"Me too!" Diglett spoke up.

"I do too!" Chimeco said, and Croagunk simply nodded in agreement...as he usually did.

Dugtrio also put aside his earlier statement, and said, "I almost forgot that trust in our colleagues is a must.

Chatot was left speechless. Pyro was in tears of joy, "Everyone...thank you..."

Wigglytuff finally broke his silence, and said, "Well, hiya! I think we're all in agreement!"

Layne was a bit surprised by that statement, as was everyone. "You mean, you believe us too?"

Wigglytuff nodded, "We all believe our friends! That's great! So we will begin searching for the Hidden Land!"

Loudred spoke up, "Now, hold on there, Guildmaster!"

Wigglytuff looked over to Loudred. "Yes, Loudred, what is it?"

Loudred spoke, "Well, we're not ALL in agreement, yet, are we!"

"What do you mean?" Wigglytuff asked.

Layne was only guessing he had fallen asleep again.

Loudred simply said, "We're all good with the story, but I don't think Chatot is convinced."

Wigglytuff began to laugh much to Layne's surprise. "Oh is that all?" He laughed some more and said, "We don't need to worry about Chatot."

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Layne spoke up, "What do you mean?"

Wigglytuff simply said, "I mean, that Chatot is convinced...aren't you Chatot?"

The guild went silent, and Layne simply said, "Uhhhh, he is?"

"Yes he is!" Wigglytuff laughed, "Because he believed Layne and Pyro's story all along! Right, Chatot?"

Everyone turned to look to Chatot. Layne was surprised with what he saw. Chatot looked as if he were forcing emotions or painfully forcing a truth up from out of his mouth. He began to laugh...or cry...or perhaps both.

The guild just looked at each other in confusion. Chatot had obviously not done this before. Chatot then said, "Well, Guildmaster...there's no fooling you. I admit it. I believed them right from the start."

That shocked the guild. Especially Layne. "Uhhhh, you did?"

Chatot nodded. "But if I said I did right away, everyone would have just gone along with what I said!"

The guild was silent. Layne leaned in on Autumn and muttered, "Is he always like this?"

Autumn just said, "I barely know what goes on in his head sometimes..."

Chatot continued, "That's the true reason I was so contrary. I had to put everyone's friendship to the test!"

"Likely story..." Bidoof said hinting sarcasm.

"But without a doubt, I was convinced from the get-go!" Chatot said in full confidence.

Layne wasn't so sure of what was currently going on in Chatot's head, but then again, this wasn't the first time he'd seen Chatot's mood swing so dramatically.

Wigglytuff came forward. "Layne!"

Layne straightened out and said, "Guildmaster!"

"We all believe you and Pyro. You're both my good friends in guild membership. So, we will indeed help you find the Hidden Land!"

Layne looked to Pyro and gave him a smile. They had succeeded in gaining the guild's support. This was more than enough for Layne to want to perhaps throw a cheer into the air.

Wigglytuff continued. "Now listen up, everyone! Time is stopping in more and more places! You now know from the story of Layne and Pyro, that our world is in great danger. So we must do something! This is our time! In the name of Wigglytuff's Guild, we will combine all our efforts, and we will discover the Hidden Land! Let's do this everyone!"

Layne for the first time in his life as an explorer, cheered with everyone. Wigglytuff then looked to Chatot. "Chatot!"

Chatot still looked a bit shaken, and even replied shaky. "Y-yes sir?"

"If you would, please..." Wiggly tuff said.

Chatot nodded and turned to the guild, "Okay, everyone! From now on, we're shifting all our efforts to locating the Hidden Land. But at the same time, we have to let everyone know what is happening in our world. It is going to get busy, and we will all have to work hard!"

Everyone erupted into chatter in saying how hard they all would work at this task.

"We have to let the lake guardians know what's going on!" Sunflora said, "Because if they're back at the lakes, they will try and stop Grovyle!"

"Then I'll help you there! Hey, hey!" Corphish said.

Bidoof said, "I'll go and spread the news in Treasure Town!"

Autumn also said, "I'll help you there, Bidoof!"

"Then the rest of us will search for the Hidden Land!" Chatot said. "And once Everyone else is done with their errands of spreading this news, you all must try and gather as much information on the Hidden Land as you can. Understood?"

"Yes sir!" Corphish, Sunflora, Autumn, and Bidoof said as one.

Layne could only look around the guild. This group right here, had never reached out in such a way before, and he could only think that words were nothing near enough thanks to express.

Wigglytuff spoke up. "We'll find the Hidden Land, together! Yoom-Tah!"

Layne simply wiped his face as everyone else around him went up in a cheer again.

Wigglytuff stepped forward and said, "I'm sorry to say, I do not have any information on the Hidden Land, but you may find some information from Torkoal, the Town Elder."

"Torkoal?" Layne asked.

Chatot nodded and said, "Treasure Town's Elder. Most of the time...actually I think all the time he spends up at the Hot Spring."

Pyro said, "Oh yeah! That turtle-pokémon!"

"I remember that guy!" Layne said. "You're saying we can get some information from him?"

"Perhaps so." Wigglytuff said.

"Then, we'll go see him!" Pyro said.

"Well...it's rather late for anymore business outside the guild." Chimeco said. "And we were just about to-"

Pyro's stomach growled. Layne began to laugh a bit. "Hungry, Pyro?"

"It was then that his growled. "It seems that I'm not the only one!" Pyro laughed. And Layne smiled a bit as his stomach growled yet again. He did smell fish...

"What a laugh, Layne!" Loudred spoke out. "Letting your belly bark back at Chimeco, are you?"

The Guild had not had a louder laugh before, and though everyone was laughing at the silly joke, Layne himself cracked a smile and said, I guess so."

Autumn was soon pushing Layne into the mess hall, saying "Come on, you." she said. "It's been too long since you both last sat in your chair! God only knows what you ate in the future..."